b'maturity, he has also worked on disease resistance such as for stripe and leaf rust, and fusarium head blight (FHB). Breeding work on such diseases have varied though.When Spaner started focusing on rust resistance breeding, they tested wheat lines for resistance to stripe rust in southern B.C. They also used imported leaf rust through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) from Manitoba and planted it in their nurseries in Edmonton.We started making advancements in our breeding program, Spaner explains. We were able to set up an area where we can test for whether something is resilient or subjective to it. And plant breeders need that, their disease nurseries, we plant stuff in heavily diseased environments and then we pick the ones that dont get it.With the Alberta government having removed Fusarium graminearum from Albertas Pest and Nuisance Control Regulations last year, Spaner expects the U of A program will be able to make strides in breeding for FHB resistance. Before Spaner had to work with crop companies such as Syngenta, other schools like the University of Manitoba and University of Saskatchewan, and AAFC, to have varieties planted in FHB infected plots outside of Alberta. But now he will be able to test FHB resistance in his own nurseries. Looking Towards the Future2021 is set to be a big year for the U of A wheat breedingA field of CS Jake, which is an ultra-early maturing variety with excellent stripe program and Spaner, with the large-scale release of six wheatrust protection and higher protein content, that is being released commercially varieties happeningCS Tracker and CS Jake with Canterrathis year through Canterra Seeds. PHOTO: DEAN SPANERCONLONBARLEYBankable Quality Shorter straw with good lodgingExcellent Yields Smooth AwnedEarliest MaturityWorking Hard to Earn Your Trust!Airth Farms, Brooks - 403-501-3688Sleepy Hollow Seeds, Milk River - 403-647-2228Wildeman Holdings, Clive - 403-470-8528Spring 2021 25'